CORE REALTY HOLDINGS JUNIOR AT OLD RANCH
Old Ranch Country Club
Seal Beach, Calif. •
July 24 - 27

RABER, SIPORIN, WILSON SHARE LEAD AT 3-UNDER-PAR AT CORE REALTY HOLDINGS JUNIOR AT OLD RANCH Kim leads by one-stroke in the Girls Division at Old Ranch Country Club

SEAL BEACH, Calif. -Tyler Raber of El Macero, Calif., Matthew Siporin of Tarzana, Calif., and Brock Wilson of Beaumont, Texas, all carded a 3-under-par 69 to share the leading position in the first round at the CORE Realty Holdings Junior at Old Ranch. In the Girls Division, Nara Kim of Diamond Bar, Calif., shot a first round total of 1-under-par 71 at the Old Ranch Country Club.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the CORE Realty Holdings Junior at Old Ranch is a 54-hole stroke play event featuring 63 boys and 21 girls, ages 12-18. five states and two foreign countries are represented with 71 players from California. The event is being held at the Old Ranch Country Club with boys tees set at 6,772 and girls tees set at 5,873.

Siporin's goal of shooting 69 was reached when he turned in a 3-under-par 69 after the first round of play. Knowing that he had the talent to turn in a low score, Siporin said he knew that it was just a matter of time for it to actually happen. Hitting 17 greens and turning in five birdies on the day, Siporin says he feels confident going into the second round.

â€śI just need to remember to relax and put another low number as a goal in my head,â€ť Siporin said. â€śBelieving you can shoot a low score is half the battle in the game of golf.â€ť

Raber, a three year member of the AJGA, said he shot a solid round with three birdies and zero bogeys. Although Raber hit 18 greens, he said that putting was a stuggle for him today.

â€śI didn't three putt today but I missed a lot of easy putts,â€ť Raber said. â€śTomorrow I plan to forget about today's round and to putt well.â€ť

After carding two birdies and on the front and one birdie on the back, Wilson also shares the top position with Raber and Siporin going into the second round.

Tied for fourth in the Boys Division are Michael Jae Woo Im of Fullerton, Calif., and Tyler Weir of Carlsbad, Calif., both at 2-under-par 70.

In the Girls Division, Kim, whose highest finish in her AJGA career was fourth at the 2007 Hanmi Bank Junior Open, carded a 1-under-par 71 in Wednesday's round. At this week's tournament, Kim said that her goal is to shoot par so that she can become fully exempt for future AJGA tournaments. Hitting 16 greens and carding five birdies, Kim's consistent play helped her turn in a low score.

â€śI really stuck to my plan of shooting par or better,â€ť Kim said. â€śThere is always pressure to try to shoot a low score but I just have to remember I am really out there to have fun.â€ť

In the Girl Division Veronica Valerio of Temecula, Calif., holds the second place at even-par 72. Tied for third place are Piper Miller of Laguna Beach, Calif., Ashley Johnson of Bellflower, Calif., and Alice Kim of Diamond Bar, Calif., at 1-over-par 73.

The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf.

The largest Association of its kind, the AJGA has an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of more than 5,000 junior golfers from 49 states and more than 25 foreign countries.

Titleist, the AJGA's National Sponsor, has been the catalyst and driving force behind the Association's success since 1989. Rolex Watch USA, which is in its third decade of AJGA support, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004. In 2007, after 12 years of support, Polo Ralph Lauren became the AJGA's second Premier Partner.

AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate and professional golf. More than 160 former AJGA juniors currently play on the PGA and LPGA Tours and have compiled more than 300 wins. AJGA alumni include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, Stewart Cink, Davis Love III, Cristie Kerr, Pat Hurst, Paula Creamer, Brittany Lincicome, Morgan Pressel and Julieta Granada.

The second round of the CORE Realty Holdings Junior at Old Ranch will begin Thursday with 7 a.m. starting times off the Nos. 1 & 10 tees.

For more information regarding the CORE Realty Holdings Junior at Old Ranch, please contact tournament headquarters at (562) 596-4425 ext.721.

The American Junior Golf Foundation is the primary recipient of all charitable giving to the AJGA and as such administers a variety of programs designed to compliment the AJGA and the members and families who make up our community. Learn more about these important programs and how your contributions to the Foundation secure the AJGA’s financial future for future generations to come.

The Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant program provides financial assistance to junior golfers who wish to play in AJGA events. Its goal is to give top-flight golf opportunities to young golfers regardless of financial resources. This program helps to fulfill the AJGA’s mission of developing young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf.

Leadership Links

What is Leadership Links?

Leadership Links is a new program whereby the AJGA is able to further its mission to help develop young men and women by teaching charitable giving skills and service-oriented practices at an early age. This program gives juniors all the tools necessary to donate their time, talent and resources to local charities and the AJGA youth development programs. Please click here to learn more about the program and the different opportunities available.

The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and
development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf.